GFDD and FUNGLODE Actively Participate in UN ECOSOC NGO Forum

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), represented by María Victoria Abreu, participated in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO Forum on "Creating an environment at the national and international
levels conducive to generating full and productive employment and decent work for all, and its impact on sustainable development", a preparatory meeting for the upcoming 2006 High Level Segment of ECOSOC.

During the Forum, moderated by Ms. Hanifa Mezoui, Chief, NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations, several representatives from NGOs, private companies and governmental officials from all around the world, discussed the recent concept of "Decent Work" as a broader notion of employment generation. It was highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) representative that for sustainable development to be achieved, we need not only to promote employment generation but Decent Work, referring to respecting the rights of the workers, offering social protection, and increasing social dialogue. "Decent Work" is a relatively new concept that includes not only full employment but having the right to work and rights at work.

 Many of the NGOs present in the Forum expressed their positions on the employment generation issue related with sustainable development strategies, which were gathered by ECOSOC to be sent to Geneva on the upcoming High Level Meeting. María Victoria Abreu made a statement on behalf of GFDD and FUNGLODE, stressing the importance of linking more directly every employment policy with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda at all levels, from individual to global. In addition, she highlighted the importance of taking a greater advantage of the opportunities that technology offers to generate employment that add value to the economies of our countries, while improving competitiveness and productivity. GFDD/FUNGLODE also recommended the multi-sector approach when addressing employment issues, in the sense that
private and public sector should work jointly with civil society organizations to assure that all voices are heard and that we are all working towards the same end: reducing poverty, overcoming social exclusion and achieving equitable and sustainable development.

H.E.
Francis Lorenzo, Ambassador Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, also attended this Forum as a special guest and during his presentation he highlighted the importance of the Diaspora and the role of remittances in financing developing and generating employment in the countries of origin.

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is member of several agencies within
the United Nations as an institution with Consultative Status.

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